I was wondering: what qualifies him to run?

He is a citizen of Canada. He is a resident of his riding and he has a keen interest in what goes on in his hometown.
That is what real grassroots politics is about and that is what makes life in a small town, such as Uxbridge so different from the city, where politicians are so far removed from the people and their interests are far less sincere.

Canadian citizenship is common to all Canadian politicians, and most live -at least part-time- in their ward/riding. These are hardly reasons to vote for someone.
My question: what is it about this fella, other than being 1/2 Estonian, that makes him so much better than his competitors? You can't seriously vote for him just because he has some distant Estonian roots . . .

You asked what qualifies him to run.
You didn't ask what his platform was or what distinguishes his platform from his competition.

No . . . what qualifications does he have, aside from being Estonian, Canadian, homeowner or a resident of the ward. Building a birdhouse for a Sunday morning regional television program does not neccisarily make him a capable municipal steward. "Staff sargeant" doesn't amount to a whole lot when it comes to politics either.

tsk, tsk, tsk.... you obviously don't understand the role of a council member in a small town / rural area.
His job would be to address residents' concerns about roads, garbage pickup, proposed developments, etc. Anyone who is comitted to the area, has a good head on their shoulders for problem solving, is a good negotiator, and is dedicated to the job, can do it. The councillor brings the concerns to weekly council meetings and any decisions are made democratically.

Do you think a municipal councilor should have a masters degree in Political Science?

Certainly, we should not vote based on the ethnicity of a candidate, but your arguments about his lack of qualifications are unreasonable.

You're right - a councillor need not hold a PhD, however, they should have some background that gives them an understanding of the political relationships between various levels of government and the mechanics of municipal development, infrastructure and growth.
I'm not sure that this guy has it. Of course, I could be wrong - he might make a brilliant councillor. What does it take to be a councillor in Uxbridge anyway . . LOL!